Severance Just Proved Something We Kind Of Knew: We Know Nothing

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Summary

  • Season 2, Episode 8 was slow-paced and lacked excitement but revealed Ms. Cobel’s pivotal role in Lumon’s ascension.
  • Ms. Cobel reminisces with Hampton about their dark past and kisses him, showcasing her inner conflict and questionable allegiances.
  • The episode “Sweet Vitriol” raises the question of whether Harmony Cobel can be trusted despite her sympathetic moments and detailed past.

For dedicated fans of the show “Severance,” it can be effortless to revisit past episodes, pause on computer screens, and sift through supplementary materials. It’s even more straightforward for devoted viewers to piece together these scattered clues, which can culminate in robust theories about the finale of “Severance.” However, what is challenging yet potentially rewarding, is understanding that the series has been subtly revealing certain truths since its beginning, while at the same time guiding viewers on a misleading path.

The eighth episode of Season 2, titled ‘Sweet Vitriol’, followed a meandering, captivating path to its surprising climax, much like a scenic drive. This episode focused on Ms. Cobel, who communicates without Milchick’s usual charm. Unlike typical episodes of ‘Severance’, this one seemed less charming, but it still managed to excel in almost every other aspect required for the series. True to form, ‘Sweet Vitriol’ was suspenseful, shocking, and filled with biting satire.

“You’re Higher Than A Bearded Vulture”

The briefest episode of Season 2 seemed more drawn-out than usual. It had fewer laughs and thrilling moments, making viewers rely mainly on the enigma surrounding Miss Cobel’s McGuffin to stay hooked. However, it did feature some stunning overhead shots of waves approaching the shore, hinting at an upcoming storm, as well as beautiful nature transitions from scene to scene. The episode was generally less lively, but Patricia Arquette’s portrayal of Harmony Cobel was exceptionally powerful, even when she spent extended periods lying down in various scenes – once in the back of a truck and another time on her mother’s deathbed. This last scene was particularly moving, with Cobel crying, struggling to breathe through her late mother’s respirator tube – the same one found on her Kier shrine in Season 1, Episode 8.

In the opening scene of ‘Sweet Vitriol’, Miss Cobel arrives at Salt’s Neck, a Lumon industrial town affected by ether fumes. Upon arrival, she witnesses a destitute man inhaling ether from a bottle, falling unconscious. Ether is known for its anesthetic and euphoric properties when consumed. Later, she heads to the local coffee shop in the shanty town, where she encounters Hampton, a dealer of ether. Through cryptic conversation, Miss Cobel and Hampton exchange words that, upon closer examination, reveal the hardships Salt’s Neck is facing due to financial struggles.

Ms Cobel notes the residents are “older” and “frailer” than she remembers. Hampton explains that:

Due to past market corrections and volatile interest rates, there has been a pullback from essential infrastructure projects.

If that appears like a mix of unrelated words, Ms. Cobel eagerly consumed it and subtly glanced towards the slim man in the room who’d taken the ‘huff’ drug from Hampton at the start of the scene. In simpler terms, living expenses surged and Lumon subsidies dwindled, leaving the Lumon town in a state of disarray.

In simpler terms, Cobel mentions they used to be friends, and Hampton replies their friendship was formed through shared work experiences as children at Lumon. This comment prompts viewers to think of Ms. Huang, the underage supervisor on Lumon’s severed floor, implying she’s not the only one who worked illegally there. Later, Hampton consents to help Cobel hide in his truck as they journey along a scenic route towards a hidden house near The Nine.

“Why Do You Bring Nothing But Woe Into My Life?”

Upon arriving at the house, Ms. Cobel brushes aside an elderly woman in white who yells that Cobel isn’t wanted here and neither is “that breathless salesman.” In response, Cobel claims that this old woman was the one who ignited his passion for it. She demands to know where her belongings are, and Aunt Sissy Cobel (revealed later), insists she had sold them to help the needy. Ms. Cobel disregards Sissy’s words, forcing her way into her late mother’s room. Here, she retrieves a respiratory tube she has kept since season one and connects it to the old bedside ventilator. She takes a puff from it, but there is no air coming through, as she futilely attempts to replicate her long-suffering mother’s desperate condition before she passed away.

In a later encounter, Hampton pays a visit to Ms. Cobel and they revert to inhaling ether, a habit they picked up as children. While under the influence, Ms. Cobel, who appears to be intoxicated, kisses Hampton and expresses her disapproval of his drug dealing. This action confuses Hampton since he’s attempting to comfort her using the only methods he knows. Unfortunately, due to Lumon Corporation’s control, Hampton is stuck running a coffee shop that the townsfolk can barely afford, using their scarce resources for ether. The townsfolk are suffering under Lumon’s rule much like they did when Ms. Cobel abandoned her mother in Salt’s Neck. During this meeting, it is disclosed that Ms. Cobel played a significant role in shaping Lumon Corporation as it is today, raising questions about her trustworthiness in the long term.

In spite of the Eagans’ deceit and destruction of Salt’s Neck, Sissy Cobel has chosen to side with them. When Harmony left to study at the Eagan school, it was Sissy who looked after Charlotte, Harmony’s mother. There were rumors that Sissy had disconnected Charlotte’s life support system, causing her death, but Sissy clarified this to Mrs. Cobel, explaining that Charlotte ended her own life, denying Mrs. Cobel the chance to see her mother alive once more.

Despite not being an angel herself, Sissy firmly believes that Ms. Cobel is indebted to the Eagans for her success, even after she’s learned about Ms. Cobel’s childhood inventions that contributed to Lumon’s progress. In an attempt to punish Ms. Cobel, Sissy tries to destroy the blueprints and inform the authorities who once held her in slavery. However, Ms. Cobel manages to escape thanks to a warning from Hampton just in time, and she eventually answers Devon’s calls to discuss Mark’s readmission into their lives.

Harmony Cobel: Friend Or Foe?

In ‘Sweet Vitriol,’ cinematographer Jessica Lee Gagné skillfully combined hauntingly beautiful landscapes with the intrigue of a small town, but I felt it could have benefited from more scenes featuring Dylan or Irving. Despite this, there was plenty to appreciate in the episode. The stark whiteness of Newfoundland’s backdrop and its maze-like structure reminded me of Mark S. navigating the complex corridors of Lumon for 37 minutes, building tension until a climactic moment. When that moment came, it thawed out Ms. Cobel’s frosty demeanor, making viewers cheer for her as she aims to break through the glass ceiling at Lumon.

The surprising fact that Miss Cobel played a crucial role in building Lumon’s technology is a massive plot twist, which makes her anger after being dismissed from the company more understandable. This seems plausible, considering her extensive knowledge of Lumon and even recalling the instance where she skillfully and grimly removed a ‘Severance’ chip from Petey’s head in Season 1. Nevertheless, one can’t help but wonder: with all the damage Miss Cobel has caused, could she possibly be an ally?

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2025-03-08 00:52